MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — The package of bills passed by the Wisconsin Assembly to tackle heroin addiction is the second in a set of bills called The Hope Act. The lead author of the bills is State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette).
State Representative John Spiros of Marshfield says this second round of bills is aimed at curbing abuse of the opiate based prescriptions that often get people hooked, and turn to heroin when the prescription runs out. He says the new bills would require more reporting, giving medical providers better tracking of what their patients are taking. “This portion of it really dealt with pain killers and reporting of pain killers, reporting by treatment programs using methadone, so that we have a better and clear picture of what’s going on.”
The new legislation would also more closely monitor dispensing of drugs and also the treatment programs that try to help addicts recover. “It’s like pain clinic certification, and then they have the prescribed PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs) reporting, and it’s basically reporting and disclosure and practitioner review requirements, so typically, they have to report… and I don’t think it would have to be somebody who’s picking it up. It’s basically that pharmacy would have to report.”
Spiros says the problem with pain pills is they’re usually too easy to get, especially for young people. “I think a lot of it has to do with the education portion of it, and letting people know that there is a problem here.”
The Assembly passed four bills this week including a measure to help track opiate prescriptions statewide and clinics that offer them, and the creation of a statewide opiate prescription database. The package passed the Assembly unanimously on a voice vote, and is now waiting for State Senate action.
